Jumat, 30 Desember 2011
Jumat, 23 Desember 2011
Trust in God: Raksmei Church Refuses to Submit to Threats of Disaster
by Leng Thy
Recently, Cambodia has experienced the worst flooding in over a decade due to typhoons and a greater than average rainfall. The Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers are overflowing and 17 of 24 provinces are affected by severe flooding especially those by major river courses. According to government reports, many areas have been submerged in floodwaters which have affected thousands of hectares of rice paddies. More than one million people are affected and at least 100,000 people displaced. The floods have destroyed road networks, dams, and other public utilities.
The catastrophe seems to be so powerful. It can damage everything, but can’t defeat the feeling of compassion in the church people of Raksmei. The village of Raksmei is located in Kampong Thom, one of the provinces affected by this calamity. In the midst of the hunger that set in when much of the harvest was destroyed, there seemed at first to be only trouble. But the people of the Methodist Church of Raksmei have turned it into an opportunity for them to demonstrate their faith and real identity as God's children who’ve claimed self-reliance and a commitment to share love with their neighbor.
Demonstrating their self-reliance, everyone in the village starts out trying their best to find food on their own without waiting for outsider assistance like government or other relief agencies. But, despite the lack of food, they do not simply take care of their own family, but also take care of their neighbors who are unable to afford to get food. They share whatever they have, not the excess left from their need. During my recent visit with Mrs. Sophal, CHAD team member, we heard from Mr. Chok Choung, the lay leader of Raksmei church. He let us know that his church members do not ignore or leave somebody within their community to be hungry without food to eat. Obviously, when they realized that 4 families in their church were facing hunger, they collected rice from everybody and shared 13 kg to each family.
More important than helping the hungry families to deal with the immediate need by sharing food to eat, Mr. Chok Choung said that the church members have also helped each other restore their long term needs. Those whose land size is bigger and possible for dry season rice farming shared some small plots of land for the landless families to grow a dry-season rice crop as well.
As Christian leaders willing to serve their church and in the community, Mr. Chok Choung and his pastor always know the real needs of their people. With God given talent, these leaders do not limit themselves to see resources only within the church, but also see the potential resources from other sources. They have developed the ability to build links with other like-minded institutions and to gain support from them. In response to the need of rice seed for the church they went round to visit those agencies, and eventually the government provided them 600kg of rice seed. To make the visits even more productive, these faithful leaders did not only ask for resource support, but also took some time to communicate with the government agency about how the church works to serve poor people as part of helping the government strategy of poverty alleviation. Resulting from this communication, the church obtained high appreciation and recognition from the government. They then came to the church to see and take pictures of the project group and the rice store.
Mr. Chok Choung and Pastor Ing Roeurn, stated confidently that "We don’t render the disaster, but in combination with prayer we will work as hard as we can to recover our living condition." Though at the moment the rice bank members failed to pay back rice loans due this Dec/Jan because of the lost of rice crop affected by flooding, they firmly determined to pay back by this April when they harvest their dry season rice from their shared paddy-fields.
Recently, Cambodia has experienced the worst flooding in over a decade due to typhoons and a greater than average rainfall. The Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers are overflowing and 17 of 24 provinces are affected by severe flooding especially those by major river courses. According to government reports, many areas have been submerged in floodwaters which have affected thousands of hectares of rice paddies. More than one million people are affected and at least 100,000 people displaced. The floods have destroyed road networks, dams, and other public utilities.
The catastrophe seems to be so powerful. It can damage everything, but can’t defeat the feeling of compassion in the church people of Raksmei. The village of Raksmei is located in Kampong Thom, one of the provinces affected by this calamity. In the midst of the hunger that set in when much of the harvest was destroyed, there seemed at first to be only trouble. But the people of the Methodist Church of Raksmei have turned it into an opportunity for them to demonstrate their faith and real identity as God's children who’ve claimed self-reliance and a commitment to share love with their neighbor.
Demonstrating their self-reliance, everyone in the village starts out trying their best to find food on their own without waiting for outsider assistance like government or other relief agencies. But, despite the lack of food, they do not simply take care of their own family, but also take care of their neighbors who are unable to afford to get food. They share whatever they have, not the excess left from their need. During my recent visit with Mrs. Sophal, CHAD team member, we heard from Mr. Chok Choung, the lay leader of Raksmei church. He let us know that his church members do not ignore or leave somebody within their community to be hungry without food to eat. Obviously, when they realized that 4 families in their church were facing hunger, they collected rice from everybody and shared 13 kg to each family.
More important than helping the hungry families to deal with the immediate need by sharing food to eat, Mr. Chok Choung said that the church members have also helped each other restore their long term needs. Those whose land size is bigger and possible for dry season rice farming shared some small plots of land for the landless families to grow a dry-season rice crop as well.
As Christian leaders willing to serve their church and in the community, Mr. Chok Choung and his pastor always know the real needs of their people. With God given talent, these leaders do not limit themselves to see resources only within the church, but also see the potential resources from other sources. They have developed the ability to build links with other like-minded institutions and to gain support from them. In response to the need of rice seed for the church they went round to visit those agencies, and eventually the government provided them 600kg of rice seed. To make the visits even more productive, these faithful leaders did not only ask for resource support, but also took some time to communicate with the government agency about how the church works to serve poor people as part of helping the government strategy of poverty alleviation. Resulting from this communication, the church obtained high appreciation and recognition from the government. They then came to the church to see and take pictures of the project group and the rice store.
Mr. Chok Choung and Pastor Ing Roeurn, stated confidently that "We don’t render the disaster, but in combination with prayer we will work as hard as we can to recover our living condition." Though at the moment the rice bank members failed to pay back rice loans due this Dec/Jan because of the lost of rice crop affected by flooding, they firmly determined to pay back by this April when they harvest their dry season rice from their shared paddy-fields.
The Transformation of Sok Nora Impacts on his Communities and Friends
by Leng Thy
Rev. Sok Nora is a pastor of a local church called Srei Sompong in Kompong Speu district, in the south-western part of Cambodia. In 2010, he was appointed to be a Social Concern Committee member as a representative of his district. Last month CHAD invited him on an exposure visit to see projects of Food For Hungry, a Christian NGO based in Along Veng, in the north-western part of Cambodia.
While traveling for hours together to reach Along Ven, Rev. Sok Nora and I had a good chance to chat, sharing experiences and feelings. In the discussion he admitted that for the first 6 years before he joined the Social Concerns Committee, he hadn’t really understood anything about the CHAD program. In 2005, his church received $900 from CHAD for a cow-raising group. That money had been misused because he didn’t spend all money to buy cows, but instead he kept some to buy loud speakers for his church. At that time he disliked the CHAD team and was not happy to work with them because he said “the CHAD staff seemed to be excessively inquisitive when they visited the project group at my church.” He viewed CHAD as a program that only emphasized on physical needs not the spiritual ones. As a pastor he wondered why he needed to spend so much time from his pastoral job in the meetings and trainings of this program.
Through his involvement with the Social Concerns Committee, with CHAD project implementation, and with CHAD team on monitoring and follow-up visits to project groups, Rev. Sok Nora learned a lot and began to understand about the CHAD program. He said “I’ve just realized that CHAD is a very useful program within Methodist Church in Cambodia. Through its projects and training, it plays a vital role in facilitating the churches to have a fresh look on its role and to keep it completely in God intention of God’s Kingdom expansion.” He found that through CHAD development project, he has an easier time to share the gospel than he previously did, when he understood evangelism only as sharing words, not as deed also.
Over these years Rev. Sok Nora has opened his heart for God to transform him. Right now he is becoming more active in carrying out his role as pastor as well as a Social Concerns Committee member. As a pastor he empowers his congregation to take initiative in establishing and implementing development project according to their needs. He said, “A sense of ownership is constantly in my mind. I fulfill my duties without waiting for any instruction from somebody else. That sense motivates me to work tirelessly.” Because of that motivation, in his role with the Social Concerns Committee he spends a lot of his time and energy to work with various levels of people.
At the church level he goes round within his district to visit them, train them how to manage resources with sound stewardship and accountability, and also to know how keep project records. As a consequence, the project groups can collect rice repayment on their own and have formed three saving groups without pushing from CHAD.
During the district meeting for pastors, Rev. Sok Nora, shares reports about CHAD projects, and he encourage the pastors to embrace a wholistic church ministries which included as well the development works, not focusing only on the spiritual realm.
For forming networking links he is highly courageous to communicate with various institutions. He visited to the Provincial Department of Information for broadcasting the church efforts in helping drought affected poor families last year, and again for the flood relief efforts. He also visited to the Provincial Department of Agriculture where he eventually received agricultural teaching materials to distribute to the churches. Since he has proved his high ability through his action of building good relationship with government, the other Christian denominations trust him, and nominated him as chairman of the inter-denominational council within his district.
In addition to the impacts mentioned earlier, Rev. Sok Nora has even influenced his friend whose position is in a high rank of government. He shared with me that he convinced him to be fair and honest and to humbly respect those he leads. That man listened to and respected Rev. Sok Nora for this. As needed, he sometime comes to Rev. Sok Nora’s house for advice.
Rev. Sok Nora is a pastor of a local church called Srei Sompong in Kompong Speu district, in the south-western part of Cambodia. In 2010, he was appointed to be a Social Concern Committee member as a representative of his district. Last month CHAD invited him on an exposure visit to see projects of Food For Hungry, a Christian NGO based in Along Veng, in the north-western part of Cambodia.
While traveling for hours together to reach Along Ven, Rev. Sok Nora and I had a good chance to chat, sharing experiences and feelings. In the discussion he admitted that for the first 6 years before he joined the Social Concerns Committee, he hadn’t really understood anything about the CHAD program. In 2005, his church received $900 from CHAD for a cow-raising group. That money had been misused because he didn’t spend all money to buy cows, but instead he kept some to buy loud speakers for his church. At that time he disliked the CHAD team and was not happy to work with them because he said “the CHAD staff seemed to be excessively inquisitive when they visited the project group at my church.” He viewed CHAD as a program that only emphasized on physical needs not the spiritual ones. As a pastor he wondered why he needed to spend so much time from his pastoral job in the meetings and trainings of this program.
Through his involvement with the Social Concerns Committee, with CHAD project implementation, and with CHAD team on monitoring and follow-up visits to project groups, Rev. Sok Nora learned a lot and began to understand about the CHAD program. He said “I’ve just realized that CHAD is a very useful program within Methodist Church in Cambodia. Through its projects and training, it plays a vital role in facilitating the churches to have a fresh look on its role and to keep it completely in God intention of God’s Kingdom expansion.” He found that through CHAD development project, he has an easier time to share the gospel than he previously did, when he understood evangelism only as sharing words, not as deed also.
Over these years Rev. Sok Nora has opened his heart for God to transform him. Right now he is becoming more active in carrying out his role as pastor as well as a Social Concerns Committee member. As a pastor he empowers his congregation to take initiative in establishing and implementing development project according to their needs. He said, “A sense of ownership is constantly in my mind. I fulfill my duties without waiting for any instruction from somebody else. That sense motivates me to work tirelessly.” Because of that motivation, in his role with the Social Concerns Committee he spends a lot of his time and energy to work with various levels of people.
At the church level he goes round within his district to visit them, train them how to manage resources with sound stewardship and accountability, and also to know how keep project records. As a consequence, the project groups can collect rice repayment on their own and have formed three saving groups without pushing from CHAD.
During the district meeting for pastors, Rev. Sok Nora, shares reports about CHAD projects, and he encourage the pastors to embrace a wholistic church ministries which included as well the development works, not focusing only on the spiritual realm.
For forming networking links he is highly courageous to communicate with various institutions. He visited to the Provincial Department of Information for broadcasting the church efforts in helping drought affected poor families last year, and again for the flood relief efforts. He also visited to the Provincial Department of Agriculture where he eventually received agricultural teaching materials to distribute to the churches. Since he has proved his high ability through his action of building good relationship with government, the other Christian denominations trust him, and nominated him as chairman of the inter-denominational council within his district.
In addition to the impacts mentioned earlier, Rev. Sok Nora has even influenced his friend whose position is in a high rank of government. He shared with me that he convinced him to be fair and honest and to humbly respect those he leads. That man listened to and respected Rev. Sok Nora for this. As needed, he sometime comes to Rev. Sok Nora’s house for advice.
“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established” ~ Proverbs 6:3
Kamis, 22 Desember 2011
Rabu, 21 Desember 2011
The Changing Health Care Reform...
INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CARE
Providing New, Voluntary Options for Long-Term Care Insurance
The law creates a voluntary long-term care insurance program – called CLASS -- to provide cash benefits to adults who become disabled.Note: On October 14, 2011, Secretary Sebelius transmitted a report and letter to Congress stating that the Department does not see a viable path forward for CLASS implementation at this time. View a copy of the CLASS report.
Read about the original CLASS proposal.
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html
Senin, 19 Desember 2011
Minggu, 18 Desember 2011
Holiday Season Burnout!
The winter holidays are usually regarded as the "happiest time of the year", but who has time for happy when you have to make sure that all of your family and friends have the perfect gifts, clean the house, work full-time, prepare for finals (whether it's you taking finals or your kids), attempt to pay all of your bills, cook, and try to juggle spending time with all of your extended family members.
Should you go to your mom's house, your dad's house, your father in-laws house, your mother-in-laws house, everyones house, or just stay home? Let's just say that you are lucky enough that both your's and your partner's parents are still living together, well that means you still have to travel between at least three homes during a twelve hour period!
So, how will you make it through the holidays? Here are a few suggestions...
1. Buy gift cards! I agree, they aren't the most personal gift, but most people really, truly like gift cards.
2. Clean a little bit each day, so you don't have to do it all in one day. Oh, and turn on the Christmas music while you're cleaning...makes it more enjoyable!
3. Have a Christmas Eve potluck over your house and invite everyone! That way, you don't have to cook everything and then on Christmas day you can stay home and enjoy the entire day in your pajamas!
4. Try to take a couple days off before Christmas and a couple after. This will make it a lot less stressful.
5. Lastly, remember what the holiday season is really about. It's not the gifts or the food, it's the time you spend with your family and friends and it will be over in the blink of an eye, so make the best of it!
East Valley hopes that each and every one of you have a safe and happy holiday season!!!
For more information about East Valley or if you would like to be a part of giving someone the gift of health this holiday season, please click on the "donate" button at the top of the page or visit us at http://www.evchc.org/!
Should you go to your mom's house, your dad's house, your father in-laws house, your mother-in-laws house, everyones house, or just stay home? Let's just say that you are lucky enough that both your's and your partner's parents are still living together, well that means you still have to travel between at least three homes during a twelve hour period!
So, how will you make it through the holidays? Here are a few suggestions...
1. Buy gift cards! I agree, they aren't the most personal gift, but most people really, truly like gift cards.
2. Clean a little bit each day, so you don't have to do it all in one day. Oh, and turn on the Christmas music while you're cleaning...makes it more enjoyable!
3. Have a Christmas Eve potluck over your house and invite everyone! That way, you don't have to cook everything and then on Christmas day you can stay home and enjoy the entire day in your pajamas!
4. Try to take a couple days off before Christmas and a couple after. This will make it a lot less stressful.
5. Lastly, remember what the holiday season is really about. It's not the gifts or the food, it's the time you spend with your family and friends and it will be over in the blink of an eye, so make the best of it!
East Valley hopes that each and every one of you have a safe and happy holiday season!!!
For more information about East Valley or if you would like to be a part of giving someone the gift of health this holiday season, please click on the "donate" button at the top of the page or visit us at http://www.evchc.org/!
Rabu, 14 Desember 2011
Selasa, 13 Desember 2011
Senin, 12 Desember 2011
The Weight Loss Doctors Are In | Fitbie
These steps provide very logical steps to weight loss. No gimics or false promises!
The Weight Loss Doctors Are In Fitbie
The Weight Loss Doctors Are In Fitbie
Jumat, 09 Desember 2011
STDs on the College Campus - Online Colleges
Check out this awesome visual on STDs! Thanks Online Colleges!
STDs on the College Campus - Online Colleges
STDs on the College Campus - Online Colleges
Kamis, 08 Desember 2011
Meet One of Our Dedicated Volunteers...Carly
Carly has been a volunteer with East Valley Community Health Center
In addition to being a volunteer, when she turned 15, she began working atEast Valley
Her volunteer work and work as a Teen Peer Educator has been a tremendous help toEast Valley
In addition to being a volunteer, when she turned 15, she began working at
Her volunteer work and work as a Teen Peer Educator has been a tremendous help to
Health Care Reform (3)
Health Disparities and the Affordable Care Act
Not all Americans have equal access to health care—or similar health care outcomes. Low-income Americans, racial and ethnic minorities, and other underserved populations often have higher rates of disease, fewer treatment options, and reduced access to care. They are also less likely to have health insurance than the population as a whole.
By improving access to quality health care for all Americans, the Affordable Care Act will help reduce these health disparities. The new law will bring down health care costs, invest in prevention and wellness, and give individuals and families more control over their own care.
The Affordable Care Act will help reduce disparities by making improvements in:
Preventive care. Medicare and some private insurance plans will cover recommended like regular check-ups, cancer screenings, and immunizations at no additional cost to eligible people.
Coordinated care. The law calls for new investments in community health teams to manage chronic disease. This is important, because minority communities experience higher rates of illness and death for chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancer. Because infant mortality and post-birth complications are also higher in minority and low-income groups, the law includes new funds for home visits for expectant mothers and newborns.
Diversity and cultural competency. The Affordable Care Act expands initiatives to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the health care professions. It also strengthens cultural competency training for all health care providers. Health plans will be required to use language services and community outreach in underserved communities. Improving communications between providers and patients will help address health disparities particularly in Hispanic communities, which currently have high numbers of uninsured people.
Health care providers for underserved communities. The Affordable Care Act and increases funding for community health centers, which provide comprehensive health care for everyone no matter how much they are able to pay. Health centers serve an estimated one in three low-income people and one in four low-income minority residents. The new resources will enable health centers to double the number of patients they serve. Combined with investments made by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the new law will support 16,000 new primary care providers.
Ending insurance discrimination. Insurance discrimination will be banned, so people who have been sick can’t be excluded from coverage or charged higher premiums. Women will no longer have to pay higher premiums because of their gender. New funding will be available to collect information on how women and racial and ethnic minorities experience the health care system, leading to improvements that will benefit these groups.
Affordable insurance coverage. A new health insurance marketplace will be created in 2014. These new health insurance Exchanges will offer one-stop shopping so individuals can compare prices, benefits, and health plan performance on easy-to-use websites. The Exchanges will guarantee that all people have a choice for quality, affordable health insurance even if a job loss, job switch, move, or illness occurs. The new law also provides tax credits to help more Americans pay for insurance.
http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2010/07/health-disparities.html
By improving access to quality health care for all Americans, the Affordable Care Act will help reduce these health disparities. The new law will bring down health care costs, invest in prevention and wellness, and give individuals and families more control over their own care.
The Affordable Care Act will help reduce disparities by making improvements in:
Preventive care. Medicare and some private insurance plans will cover recommended like regular check-ups, cancer screenings, and immunizations at no additional cost to eligible people.
Coordinated care. The law calls for new investments in community health teams to manage chronic disease. This is important, because minority communities experience higher rates of illness and death for chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancer. Because infant mortality and post-birth complications are also higher in minority and low-income groups, the law includes new funds for home visits for expectant mothers and newborns.
Diversity and cultural competency. The Affordable Care Act expands initiatives to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the health care professions. It also strengthens cultural competency training for all health care providers. Health plans will be required to use language services and community outreach in underserved communities. Improving communications between providers and patients will help address health disparities particularly in Hispanic communities, which currently have high numbers of uninsured people.
Health care providers for underserved communities. The Affordable Care Act and increases funding for community health centers, which provide comprehensive health care for everyone no matter how much they are able to pay. Health centers serve an estimated one in three low-income people and one in four low-income minority residents. The new resources will enable health centers to double the number of patients they serve. Combined with investments made by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the new law will support 16,000 new primary care providers.
Ending insurance discrimination. Insurance discrimination will be banned, so people who have been sick can’t be excluded from coverage or charged higher premiums. Women will no longer have to pay higher premiums because of their gender. New funding will be available to collect information on how women and racial and ethnic minorities experience the health care system, leading to improvements that will benefit these groups.
Affordable insurance coverage. A new health insurance marketplace will be created in 2014. These new health insurance Exchanges will offer one-stop shopping so individuals can compare prices, benefits, and health plan performance on easy-to-use websites. The Exchanges will guarantee that all people have a choice for quality, affordable health insurance even if a job loss, job switch, move, or illness occurs. The new law also provides tax credits to help more Americans pay for insurance.
http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2010/07/health-disparities.html
Selasa, 06 Desember 2011
Jumat, 02 Desember 2011
Meet Our Staff...Frank
Frank has been working part-time at East Valley California East Valley
Welcome Frank! We are glad to have you join our Quality Improvement Team!
Kamis, 01 Desember 2011
Rabu, 30 November 2011
What is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause, often referred to as pre-menopause or menopausal transition, is the time when natural changes occur in the body that lead to permanent infertility, or menopause. These changes usually begin to occur when a woman is in her 40's, however some women can experience it as early as their 30's. Once a woman goes 12 months consecutively without a period, menopause is reached and perimenopause is over. On average, women reach menopause at age 51.
The most common symptoms of perimenopause are menstrual irregularity, hot flashes, bone density loss, decreasing fertility, mood changes, sleep problems, vaginal dryness and infections, and bladder problems. If a woman experiences symptoms that interfere with her life or well-being, it is important that she make and appointment to visit her doctor.
Available treatments you can ask your doctor about include oral contraceptives, laser treatment to reduce or end menstrual flow, and progestin therapy. At home, it is important that women eat a nutritious diet, get regular exercise, and practice stress reduction techniques.
Perimenopause and menopause is a normal phase in a woman’s life, however, if you ever have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask questions!!!
For more information on perimenopause and/or menopause, please ask your doctor, or log onto www.evchc.org to find out how to make an appointment at one of our clinics.
The most common symptoms of perimenopause are menstrual irregularity, hot flashes, bone density loss, decreasing fertility, mood changes, sleep problems, vaginal dryness and infections, and bladder problems. If a woman experiences symptoms that interfere with her life or well-being, it is important that she make and appointment to visit her doctor.
Available treatments you can ask your doctor about include oral contraceptives, laser treatment to reduce or end menstrual flow, and progestin therapy. At home, it is important that women eat a nutritious diet, get regular exercise, and practice stress reduction techniques.
Perimenopause and menopause is a normal phase in a woman’s life, however, if you ever have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask questions!!!
For more information on perimenopause and/or menopause, please ask your doctor, or log onto www.evchc.org to find out how to make an appointment at one of our clinics.
Senin, 28 November 2011
Selasa, 22 November 2011
Kamis, 17 November 2011
Christmas Holiday Toy Drive
The holidays are almost here and East Valley Pomona and West Covina
If you are able to help one or more of the identified patients, please bring an unwrapped toy to the front desk of either the Pomona or West Covina
C/O Shawna Maliglig
Please write “Christmas” on the memo line of your check.
I understand that economically it is a difficult time, however these patients and their families would not have any Christmas gifts if it were not for the spirit of giving. Thank you for making the holidays a little brighter for those in need.
Selasa, 15 November 2011
5-Ways East Valley Helps Everyone in the Community:
1. East Valley
2. East Valley
3. East Valley
4. East Valley
5. East Valley
Senin, 14 November 2011
Round 2 Recipe -Thanksgiving Quesadilla with Cranberry Cream Dipping Sauce on the Food Network
Round 2 Recipe -Thanksgiving Quesadilla with Cranberry Cream Dipping Sauce on the Food Network
This is a good recipe for after Thanksgiving snacks. Substitute regular sour cream for fat-free or light sour cream and use low-fat cheese to make it a bit healthier. Enjoy!
This is a good recipe for after Thanksgiving snacks. Substitute regular sour cream for fat-free or light sour cream and use low-fat cheese to make it a bit healthier. Enjoy!
Why get tested?
There are many reasons to get an HIV test. A few are:
• You’re sexually active and are concerned about your health.
• You’ve had unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex.
• You and your sexual partner(s) want to know each other’s status.
• You’ve had a sexual partner who is HIV positive.
• You have injected drugs or other substances.
• You just want to know.
East Valley provides HIV education, testing, counseling, and case management to those in need. To help us continue to provide these vital services, please click on the donate button at the top of the page or log onto www.evchc.org. Thank you in advance for your contribution!
• You’re sexually active and are concerned about your health.
• You’ve had unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex.
• You and your sexual partner(s) want to know each other’s status.
• You’ve had a sexual partner who is HIV positive.
• You have injected drugs or other substances.
• You just want to know.
East Valley provides HIV education, testing, counseling, and case management to those in need. To help us continue to provide these vital services, please click on the donate button at the top of the page or log onto www.evchc.org. Thank you in advance for your contribution!
Selasa, 08 November 2011
Cancer Symptoms
20 Cancer Symptoms Women Are Most Likely to Ignore
By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com senior editor
Routine tests like pap smears and mammograms are important, but don't rely on tests alone to protect you from cancer. It's just as important to listen to your body and notice anything that's different, odd, or unexplainable. Although many of these symptoms could be caused by less serious conditions, they're worth getting checked out if they persist. You don't want to join the ranks of cancer patients who realize too late that symptoms they'd noticed for a long time could have sounded the alarm earlier, when cancer was easier to cure.
1. Wheezing or shortness of breath
One of the first signs lung cancer patients remember noticing when they look back is the inability to catch their breath. "I couldn't even walk across the yard without wheezing. I thought I had asthma, but how come I didn't have it before?" is how one woman described it. Thyroid cancer can also cause breathing problems if a nodule or tumor begins to press on the trachea, or windpipe. Any breathing difficulties that persist are reason to visit the doctor.
2. Chronic cough or chest pain
Several types of cancer, including leukemia and lung tumors, can cause symptoms that mimic a bad cough or bronchitis. One way to tell the difference: The problems persist, or go away and come back again in a repeating cycle. Some lung cancer patients report chest pain that extends up into the shoulder or down the arm.
3. Swallowing problems or hoarseness
Most commonly associated with esophageal or throat cancer, difficulty swallowing is sometimes one of the first signs of lung cancer, too. A hoarse or low, husky voice or the feeling of something pressing on the throat can be an early indicator of thyroid cancer or a precancerous thyroid nodule, as can the feeling of having something stuck in your windpipe.
4. Frequent fevers or infections
These can be signs of leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells that starts in the bone marrow. Leukemia causes the marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy white cells, sapping the body's infection-fighting capabilities. Often, doctors diagnose leukemia only after the patient has been in a number of times complaining of fever, achiness, and flu-like symptoms over an extended period of time.
5. Swollen lymph nodes or lumps on the neck, underarm, or groin
Enlarged lymph nodes indicate changes in the lymphatic system, which can be a sign of cancer. For example, a lump or an enlarged lymph node under the arm is sometimes a sign of breast cancer. A painless lump on the neck, underarm, or groin can be an early sign of leukemia.
6. Bloating or abdominal weight gain -- the "my jeans don't fit" syndrome
While this might sound too common a phenomenon to be considered a cancer symptom, consider this: Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer overwhelmingly report that unexplained abdominal bloating that came on fairly suddenly and continued on and off over a long period of time (as opposed to occurring a few days each month with PMS) was one of the main ways they knew something was wrong.
7. Feeling full and unable to eat
This is another tip-off to ovarian cancer; women say they have no appetite and can't eat, even when they haven't eaten for some time. Any woman who experiences noticeable bloating or weight gain numerous times (the diagnostic criteria is more than 13 times over the period of a month) -- especially if it's accompanied by pelvic pain or feeling overly full -- should call her doctor and ask for a pelvic ultrasound.
8. Pelvic or abdominal pain
Taken by itself, pelvic pain can mean a lot of things. In fact, because it's a common symptom of fibroids, ovarian cysts, and other reproductive tract disorders, doctors don't always think of cancer when you describe pelvic pain. Make sure your doctor looks at all possible explanations and does a full exam, since pain and cramping in the pelvis and abdomen can go hand in hand with the bloating that often signals ovarian cancer. Leukemia can also cause abdominal pain resulting from an enlarged spleen.
9. Unusually heavy or painful periods or bleeding between periods
Many women reported this as the tip-off to endometrial or uterine cancer. Unfortunately, many women also said their doctors weren't responsive, overlooking or misdiagnosing their complaints as normal perimenopause. Ask for a transvaginal ultrasound if you suspect something more than routine heavy periods.
10. Rectal bleeding or blood in stool
"I thought it was hemorrhoids" is one of the most common things doctors hear when diagnosing colorectal cancer. Blood in the toilet alone is reason to call your doctor and schedule a colonoscopy.
Retrieved from: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cancer/20-cancer-symptoms-women-are-most-likely-to-ignore
East Valley provides early cancer detection services to men and women. Many people who come to the clinic have little to no income and need services like ours. To help East Valley continue to provide these services for those in need, please click donate on our blog. For more information about our services, please visit us at http://www.evchc.org/. Thank you for your support!
Sexually Transmitted Disease Facts
- Chlamydia is the #1 STD among teens.
- Chlamydia, Gonnorhea, and Syphilis are all curable but if they are not treated in time could lead to long-term health problems including infertility, blindness, and even death.
- Condoms should be worn during every sexual act and protect against most STDs.
- A mother with an STD can pass it to their baby during childbirth.
- There are two types of Herpes, 1 & 2, and most people have type 1 which are commonly known as cold sores or fever blisters.
- Some strains of HPV cause genital warts, and others can cause cervical cancer. Although the warts can be ugly, the HPV that causes cervical cancer is much more serious.
- You don't have to "sleep around" to get an STD, because many people can get it from a cheating partner or from the first time they have sex. It only takes one time!
Senin, 07 November 2011
Judge blocks graphic cigarette label images
Very interesting article about the FDA trying to mandate disturbing images on cigarette packages. If you get a chance, read the comments after the article too!
Judge blocks graphic cigarette label images
Judge blocks graphic cigarette label images
Minggu, 06 November 2011
A testimony from Sophal
So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. ~~ John 18:12"Many people who thought I died during Pol Pot are just to know I am alive," Mrs. Sophal shared with me about re-connecting with friends in the Battambong region where she traveled to conduct a workshop in leadership development for the CHAD program of the Methodist Mission in Cambodia. She and I are driving to another church visit when she received a call from one of these friends.
"Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver-- let him rescue the one in whom he delights!" ~~ Psalm 22:8
"We got separated and they thought I had died like my brother."
Mrs. Sophal's brother was a Christian (the only one in her family, and one of very few in Cambodia) before the Khmer Rouge took over the country. He was captured and executed by the Pol Pot regime. The way she tells the story is thus. "They bound his hands, but only loosely. So, he was able to escape a bit to the forest where he prayed before they killed him."
She continues the story by saying that mental illness is a burden for people in Cambodia, especially women. "Women can't release their burden, they just keep thinking, and this causes mental problem. Many times during Pol Pot, I wanted to kill myself, but I thought about my younger sister, what would happen to her if I died." Today, Mrs. Sophal says she can release her burdens through prayer modeled by her brother and by Jesus. She shares this faith with others in Cambodia, with the hope that they can also find release.
Mrs. Sophal's own conversion happened much later, in response to God answering her prayers for healing the sight of man in her community development project. But, the inspiration of her brother, his faith and his prayers, helped to shape her and her understanding that even in the Garden of Gethsemane, we can cast our burdens upon God and find freedom.
by Katherine Parker
A devotional reflection for Good Friday Year B
Jumat, 04 November 2011
FDA: Moldy applesauce repackaged by school lunch supplier
I came accross this article and thought it might be of interest to some of you.
FDA: Moldy applesauce repackaged by school lunch supplier
FDA: Moldy applesauce repackaged by school lunch supplier
A first-hand account of flooding in Prey Veng Province from Amanda
by Amanda King
The enormity of this year's flooding was really driven home to me when I (Amanda King) traveled with a friend to visit his home village during the recent Pchum Ben holiday. My friend's home is in Prey Veng Province, along the Mekong River and near the Vietnam border.
Recently, I've learned to love the wide-open view that comes with traveling the country by moto, as we were last week — and as most Cambodians do on a daily basis. This time, though, that view afforded me a front-row seat to a natural disaster.
The farther we got out of the city, the closer we got to the river; and as the kilometers went by, the extent of the flooding gradually unfolded.
What started out as flooded ditches and over-saturated rice paddies slowly morphed into an inland ocean, until all that was to be seen on either side of the highway was water stretching all the way to the horizon, with the occasional rooftop or palm tree interrupting the otherwise glassy surface.
We rode several kilometers through this surreal and deceptively serene landscape before we got a glimpse of the human cost of the flooding. Soon enough, we started noticing the people — lots of them — all along the sides of the road. But they weren't walking or waiting to snag a ride. They were living there. On the shoulder of the road. People, cows, chickens, ducks. All huddled beneath tarps or in wobbly lean-tos. Entire villages were popping up in the two meters or so of concrete along the side of the road — the only dry ground to be seen for kilometers.
The scene continued like this for almost an hour's worth of driving, and the closer we got to my friend's home, the more clear it became that his village would likely be among the many affected by this catastrophe.
When we pulled off the national highway and onto the dirt road that leads to my friend's home village, we made it less than 20 meters before we were brought to a stop by the sight of water over the road.
The water here wasn't too deep — just under two feet, by my estimation — but it was enough that it would have drowned out the moto's engine if we were to continue. So we parked the bike at a relative's home nearby and set out to finish the final five kilometers of the journey on foot, rolling up our pant legs and sloshing through the filthy, trash-ridden water from the swollen river.
We walked less than a half kilometer like this before we made it back to dry ground, but when we got within two kilometers of his home, we ran head-on into the river. There was no road anymore. Just river. (I should interject here that this particular road was well over 150 meters away from the river when I visited last month.)
A dugout canoe was the only means of transport available to us at this point, so into the boat we went. By the time my friend, myself, and the boat owner were all loaded, the top of the canoe was a mere one or two inches above the surface of the water, and even the slightest movement rocked the boat in a way that threatened to spill us all overboard. Needless to say, I sat completely still, with my mouth slightly ajar, as we paddled past homes I had visited just the month before, now with water a meter deep encroaching on their stilted frames. Within 10 minutes, we had arrived at my friend's village. We paddled in through the "backyard" of his aunt's house, past the halfway submerged outhouse and right up to within two meters of the home.
His aunt had a bit of dry ground in the yard in front of her stilted house, so it was therefore the de-facto home for all the livestock in the village as well as the site of the big party requisite for the last night of the festival. We stayed in the village for three days and two nights, and by the time we left, she would have no front yard to speak of, as the town would essentially become part of the river. Even the dugout canoe we had taken there would not be enough to get us back, now that there was a strong current flowing down what used to be the village's only road. We would resort to taking a larger fishing boat with an engine.
Villagers who had lived in the area for more than 50 years were saying it was the worst flooding they had ever seen.
I've never really been thrown into the middle of a natural disaster like this before. The rising waters complicated almost every aspect of daily life: cooking, bathing, using the toilet, walking to visit a neighbor. But some things were simplified, believe it or not. Fishing, for instance, was now merely a matter of setting up a net outside the front door and checking it occasionally.
By and large, though, it just made everything harder, and will continue to do so as hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice are ruined and unsanitary floodwater spreads waterborne illness. That's not to mention the role scientists are saying lingering pools of standing water will play in extending the season for mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever and malaria.
The flood, and its consequences, are tough to ignore for all of our staff here in Cambodia who have seen it first-hand. Thankfully, my fellow missionaries and I have the means to leave the disaster behind, but that's quite simply not the case for most of those affected.
By Amanda King, Individual Volunteer assisting with communications for the Methodist Mission in Cambodia
Kamis, 03 November 2011
Health Care Reform (2)
Accountable Care Organizations: Improving Care Coordination for People with Medicare
The Affordable Care Act includes a number of policies to help physicians, hospitals, and other caregivers improve the safety and quality of patient care and make health care more affordable. By focusing on the needs of patients and linking payments to outcomes, these delivery system reforms will help improve the health of individuals and communities and slow cost growth.
On March 31, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released proposed new rules to help doctors, hospitals, and other providers better coordinate care for Medicare patients through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs create incentives for health care providers to work together to treat an individual patient across care settings – including doctor’s offices, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The Medicare Shared Savings Program will reward ACOs that lower growth in health care costs while meeting performance standards on quality of care and putting patients first. Patient and provider participation in an ACO is purely voluntary.
Need for and Benefits of Coordinated, Accountable Care
Today, more than half of Medicare beneficiaries have five or more chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and kidney disease. These patients often receive care from multiple physicians. A failure to coordinate care can often lead to patients not getting the care they need, receiving duplicative care, and being at an increased risk of suffering medical errors. On average, each year, one in seven Medicare patients admitted to a hospital has been subject to a harmful medical mistake in the course of their care. And nearly one in five Medicare patients discharged from the hospital is readmitted within 30 days – a readmission many patients could have avoided if their care outside of the hospital had been aggressive and better coordinated.
Improving coordination and communication among physicians and other providers and suppliers through Accountable Care Organizations will help improve the care Medicare beneficiaries receive, while also helping lower costs.
According to the analysis of the proposed regulation for ACOs, Medicare could potentially save as much as $960 million over three years.
About Accountable Care Organizations
Under the proposed rule, an ACO refers to a group of providers and suppliers of services (e.g., hospitals, physicians, and others involved in patient care) that will work together to coordinate care for the patients they serve with Original Medicare (that is, those who are not in a Medicare Advantage private plan). The goal of an ACO is to deliver seamless, high quality care for Medicare beneficiaries. The ACO would be a patient-centered organization where the patient and providers are true partners in care decisions.
The Affordable Care Act specifies that an ACO may include the following types of groups of providers and suppliers of Medicare-covered services:
Sharing Savings
Under the proposed rule, Medicare would continue to pay individual health care providers and suppliers for specific items and services as it currently does under the Original Medicare payment systems. CMS would also develop a benchmark for each ACO against which ACO performance is measured to assess whether it qualifies to receive shared savings, or to be held accountable for losses. CMS is also proposing to establish a minimum sharing rate that would account for normal variations in health care spending, so that the ACO would be entitled to shared savings only when savings exceeded the minimum sharing rate. The amount of shared savings depends on whether on an ACO meets or exceeds quality performance standards. The proposed rule would provide for additional shared savings for ACOs that include beneficiaries who receive services from a Federally Qualified Health Center or Rural Health Clinic during the performance year.
CMS is proposing to implement both a one-sided risk model (sharing of savings only for the first two years and sharing of savings and losses in the third year) and a two-sided risk model (sharing of savings and losses for all three years), allowing the ACO to opt for either model. This will help organizations with less experience with risk models, such as some physician-driven organizations or smaller ACOs, to gain experience with population management before transitioning to a risk-based model, while also providing an opportunity for more experienced ACOs that are ready to share in losses to enter a sharing arrangement that provides a greater share of savings, but at the risk of repaying Medicare a portion of any losses.
Measuring Quality Improvement
The proposed rule links the amount of shared savings an ACO may receive to its performance on quality standards. The rule proposes quality measures in five key areas that affect patient care:
Improving Care for Patients
Any patient who has multiple doctors probably understands the frustration of fragmented and disconnected care: lost or unavailable medical charts, duplicated medical procedures, or having to share the same information over and over with different doctors. Accountable Care Organizations are designed to lift this burden from patients, while improving the partnership between patients and doctors in making health care decisions. People with Medicare will have better control over their health care, and their doctors can provide better care because they will have better information about their patients’ medical history and can communicate with a patient’s other doctors. Medicare beneficiaries whose doctors participate in an ACO will still have a full choice of providers and can still choose to see doctors outside of the ACO. Patients choosing to receive care from providers participating in ACOs will have access to information about how well their doctors, hospitals, or other caregivers are meeting quality standards.
Antitrust Guidance for Providers in ACOs
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have worked together to facilitate the creation of ACOs by giving providers the clear and practical guidance they need to form innovative, integrated health care delivery systems without running afoul of antitrust laws. In conjunction with the proposed rule for the Shared Savings Program, the two agencies have issued a joint Proposed Statement of Enforcement Policy Regarding Accountable Care Organizations Participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (“Antitrust Policy Statement”). Under the proposed Antitrust Policy Statement, the agencies are proposing to establish different levels of antitrust scrutiny depending on the specific ACO arrangement. For example, DOJ and FTC are proposing to give rule of reason treatment to an ACO if, the ACO uses the same governance and leadership structure and the same clinical and administrative processes in the commercial market, as it uses to qualify for and participate in the Shared Savings Program. For more details, visit www.ftc.gov/opp/aco/.
One Part of Quality Improvement
ACOs are just one piece of a broader effort by the Obama Administration to improve the quality of health care for all Americans. On March 21, HHS announced the first-ever National Quality Strategy, which will serve as a tool to better coordinate quality initiatives between public and private partners. In addition, the Affordable Care Act established a new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation that will test innovative care and service delivery models. CMS is currently exploring how the Innovation Center will test alternative payment models for Accountable Care Organizations.
Before the rule is finalized, CMS will review all comments from the public and may make changes to its proposals based on those comments.
To read the Notice of Proposed Rule-making for ACOs, visit http://www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
To read the press release, visit http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/03/20110331a.html.
Posted on: March 31, 2011
Last updated: October 26, 2011
http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/03/accountablecare03312011a.html
On March 31, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released proposed new rules to help doctors, hospitals, and other providers better coordinate care for Medicare patients through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs create incentives for health care providers to work together to treat an individual patient across care settings – including doctor’s offices, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The Medicare Shared Savings Program will reward ACOs that lower growth in health care costs while meeting performance standards on quality of care and putting patients first. Patient and provider participation in an ACO is purely voluntary.
Need for and Benefits of Coordinated, Accountable Care
Today, more than half of Medicare beneficiaries have five or more chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and kidney disease. These patients often receive care from multiple physicians. A failure to coordinate care can often lead to patients not getting the care they need, receiving duplicative care, and being at an increased risk of suffering medical errors. On average, each year, one in seven Medicare patients admitted to a hospital has been subject to a harmful medical mistake in the course of their care. And nearly one in five Medicare patients discharged from the hospital is readmitted within 30 days – a readmission many patients could have avoided if their care outside of the hospital had been aggressive and better coordinated.
Improving coordination and communication among physicians and other providers and suppliers through Accountable Care Organizations will help improve the care Medicare beneficiaries receive, while also helping lower costs.
According to the analysis of the proposed regulation for ACOs, Medicare could potentially save as much as $960 million over three years.
About Accountable Care Organizations
Under the proposed rule, an ACO refers to a group of providers and suppliers of services (e.g., hospitals, physicians, and others involved in patient care) that will work together to coordinate care for the patients they serve with Original Medicare (that is, those who are not in a Medicare Advantage private plan). The goal of an ACO is to deliver seamless, high quality care for Medicare beneficiaries. The ACO would be a patient-centered organization where the patient and providers are true partners in care decisions.
The Affordable Care Act specifies that an ACO may include the following types of groups of providers and suppliers of Medicare-covered services:
- ACO professionals (i.e., physicians and hospitals meeting the statutory definition) in group practice arrangements,
- Networks of individual practices of ACO professionals,
- Partnerships or joint ventures arrangements between hospitals and ACO professionals, or
- Hospitals employing ACO professionals, and
- Other Medicare providers and suppliers as determined by the Secretary.
Sharing Savings
Under the proposed rule, Medicare would continue to pay individual health care providers and suppliers for specific items and services as it currently does under the Original Medicare payment systems. CMS would also develop a benchmark for each ACO against which ACO performance is measured to assess whether it qualifies to receive shared savings, or to be held accountable for losses. CMS is also proposing to establish a minimum sharing rate that would account for normal variations in health care spending, so that the ACO would be entitled to shared savings only when savings exceeded the minimum sharing rate. The amount of shared savings depends on whether on an ACO meets or exceeds quality performance standards. The proposed rule would provide for additional shared savings for ACOs that include beneficiaries who receive services from a Federally Qualified Health Center or Rural Health Clinic during the performance year.
CMS is proposing to implement both a one-sided risk model (sharing of savings only for the first two years and sharing of savings and losses in the third year) and a two-sided risk model (sharing of savings and losses for all three years), allowing the ACO to opt for either model. This will help organizations with less experience with risk models, such as some physician-driven organizations or smaller ACOs, to gain experience with population management before transitioning to a risk-based model, while also providing an opportunity for more experienced ACOs that are ready to share in losses to enter a sharing arrangement that provides a greater share of savings, but at the risk of repaying Medicare a portion of any losses.
Measuring Quality Improvement
The proposed rule links the amount of shared savings an ACO may receive to its performance on quality standards. The rule proposes quality measures in five key areas that affect patient care:
- Patient/caregiver experience of care;
- Care coordination;
- Patient safety;
- Preventive health; and
- At-risk population/frail elderly health.
Improving Care for Patients
Any patient who has multiple doctors probably understands the frustration of fragmented and disconnected care: lost or unavailable medical charts, duplicated medical procedures, or having to share the same information over and over with different doctors. Accountable Care Organizations are designed to lift this burden from patients, while improving the partnership between patients and doctors in making health care decisions. People with Medicare will have better control over their health care, and their doctors can provide better care because they will have better information about their patients’ medical history and can communicate with a patient’s other doctors. Medicare beneficiaries whose doctors participate in an ACO will still have a full choice of providers and can still choose to see doctors outside of the ACO. Patients choosing to receive care from providers participating in ACOs will have access to information about how well their doctors, hospitals, or other caregivers are meeting quality standards.
Antitrust Guidance for Providers in ACOs
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have worked together to facilitate the creation of ACOs by giving providers the clear and practical guidance they need to form innovative, integrated health care delivery systems without running afoul of antitrust laws. In conjunction with the proposed rule for the Shared Savings Program, the two agencies have issued a joint Proposed Statement of Enforcement Policy Regarding Accountable Care Organizations Participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (“Antitrust Policy Statement”). Under the proposed Antitrust Policy Statement, the agencies are proposing to establish different levels of antitrust scrutiny depending on the specific ACO arrangement. For example, DOJ and FTC are proposing to give rule of reason treatment to an ACO if, the ACO uses the same governance and leadership structure and the same clinical and administrative processes in the commercial market, as it uses to qualify for and participate in the Shared Savings Program. For more details, visit www.ftc.gov/opp/aco/.
One Part of Quality Improvement
ACOs are just one piece of a broader effort by the Obama Administration to improve the quality of health care for all Americans. On March 21, HHS announced the first-ever National Quality Strategy, which will serve as a tool to better coordinate quality initiatives between public and private partners. In addition, the Affordable Care Act established a new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation that will test innovative care and service delivery models. CMS is currently exploring how the Innovation Center will test alternative payment models for Accountable Care Organizations.
Before the rule is finalized, CMS will review all comments from the public and may make changes to its proposals based on those comments.
To read the Notice of Proposed Rule-making for ACOs, visit http://www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1.
To read the press release, visit http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/03/20110331a.html.
Posted on: March 31, 2011
Last updated: October 26, 2011
http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/03/accountablecare03312011a.html
Senin, 31 Oktober 2011
More Than A Cow: How Cow Banks Promote Financial Security
 |
| Photo by Paul Jeffrey |
For most Cambodian families, cows represent much more than a farm tool or even a potential food source. Here, cows mean financial security. They can be sold whenever the family is in a financial pinch — if someone becomes ill, if the breadwinner suddenly loses a job, or if natural disaster strikes.
Cows are living, walking savings accounts. So when CHAD promotes cows through our cow bank programs, we're really promoting financial security. And since we operate under a "passing on the gift" philosophy, that security spreads throughout a community.
Here's how it works:
Community members form a cow bank group. Of the people in that group, one is selected as the initial caretaker. That caretaker is the custodian of the cow gifted to the group from CHAD. When that cow becomes pregnant and gives birth, the calf is passed on to another group member. The original caretaker is allowed to keep the second offspring. But the third time around, the calf is passed on again. At this point, the caretaker becomes the owner of the gift-cow and all subsequent offspring.
The same gifting system is applied to the offspring of the original cow, with recipients passing on the first and third calves that they bear. And as the cow's family tree grows larger and larger, so does the group of people whose lives are improved by the cow bank.
Of course, there are often flukes in the system: Cows die or become infertile, or family emergencies necessitate that a cow be sold before it can pass on offspring. Missionary Katherine Parker talks about some of the complications that arise in keeping track of a cow's genealogy in this blog entry.
Despite the complications, the program successfully provides financial security to many Cambodian families each year.
Sabtu, 29 Oktober 2011
A flood relief appeal from Mission Superintendent Rev Song
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Greetings in the name of our Lord Christ from Cambodia.
As you know, God has tied us in one to work together in Cambodia for many years to form the Methodist Church in Cambodia and expand the Kingdom of God together. Praise the Lord our God for His abundant grace and great plan for Cambodia. He had done wonderful ministry here in Cambodia through us. And also I would like to give thanks to all the partner churches for your partnership and contribution. It is very true that the mission journey has come this far only with your prayer and that kind of help. Please lift up this young church and pastors continuously to achieve His great plan and please Him very much.
Now our brothers and sisters in Cambodia have suffered by severe flood. Most of you know the dangerous situation in Bangkok through mass-media broadcasted about it from Thailand. The situation to hit the center of capital city is very severe. As for Cambodia, the situation is quite bad also. It is the worst flood in Cambodia for last 20 years that I have served here.
I'll just quote some information from newspaper:
And also we need to provide some materials urgently like water filters, medicines, mosquito net, and grain to plant and rice for daily life etc. I urge you to be with us in your prayer and give some help.
Please let me know through email if you would like to know how to wire funds. Or you can help us through agency country office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia also.
I hope God be with you all forever.
In Christ
Rev, Song Jin Sup
Mission Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Cambodia
Note from Katherine: Funds sent through The Advance (designated giving of the United Methodist Church) can be channeled to Advance #3020542 with a memo/note/designation for "flood relief" will also be used for this purpose.
Greetings in the name of our Lord Christ from Cambodia.
As you know, God has tied us in one to work together in Cambodia for many years to form the Methodist Church in Cambodia and expand the Kingdom of God together. Praise the Lord our God for His abundant grace and great plan for Cambodia. He had done wonderful ministry here in Cambodia through us. And also I would like to give thanks to all the partner churches for your partnership and contribution. It is very true that the mission journey has come this far only with your prayer and that kind of help. Please lift up this young church and pastors continuously to achieve His great plan and please Him very much.
Now our brothers and sisters in Cambodia have suffered by severe flood. Most of you know the dangerous situation in Bangkok through mass-media broadcasted about it from Thailand. The situation to hit the center of capital city is very severe. As for Cambodia, the situation is quite bad also. It is the worst flood in Cambodia for last 20 years that I have served here.
I'll just quote some information from newspaper:
- more than 300 people have died by flood water.
- 19 of 24 provinces had been hit by flood.
- more than 300,000 families have been evacuated.
- 390,000 hectares of rice crop had been damaged(around 15% of total rice paddy).
- more than 1,000 schools had been destroyed.
- 2,700 kilometers of roadways destroyed.
- more than 1,000 families of our Methodist families have been affected.
And also we need to provide some materials urgently like water filters, medicines, mosquito net, and grain to plant and rice for daily life etc. I urge you to be with us in your prayer and give some help.
Please let me know through email if you would like to know how to wire funds. Or you can help us through agency country office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia also.
I hope God be with you all forever.
In Christ
Rev, Song Jin Sup
Mission Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Cambodia
Note from Katherine: Funds sent through The Advance (designated giving of the United Methodist Church) can be channeled to Advance #3020542 with a memo/note/designation for "flood relief" will also be used for this purpose.
Selasa, 25 Oktober 2011
Senin, 24 Oktober 2011
Jumat, 21 Oktober 2011
A malaria volunteer in Kirirom
by Katherine Parker
I just got back from a three day visit to a remote part of Kampong Speu province... actually one of the few "mountain" regions of the country. It was a lovely visit and the countryside is just gorgeous. This is the third month for us to be working with a new cluster of churches in this region. And so, on this visit I traveled out to actually meet with community members at their village - rather than just with church leaders at a central location for the cluster.
One of the joys of meeting people in their home place is finding out small ways that individuals are living out their Christian service to their community. As is true for church members in the US and around the world, people of faith in Cambodia are active in their communities and partnering with various local initiatives to improve lives. Many church members are very active in health care ministry, especially accompanying neighbors to the local clinic or farther afield to the provincial referral hospital. CHAD provides orientation to this kind of service through our Good Samaritan training program. But our training really just builds on what folks are already doing in their communities.
The first night of this trip I spent at the house of the pastor of the Kirirom church, and learned about an example of health outreach being done by the pastor's wife. His wife is the local malaria control volunteer. This region has particularly high incidence of malaria because many people get their livlihood from going into the forest (mostly to cut wood) and this is breeding ground for mosquitoes. Because it is cool and damp under the trees the malaria mosquitoes are also more active.
She has been trained by the government's Ministry of Health in partnership with USAID in a simple chemical-blood test for the malaria parasite and how to prescribe the correct dosage of medicine according to age, size, etc. for those who test positive. She showed us her records over the last 2 years and the growing awareness of people in her village about malaria indicated by the increased number of people who come for testing each month. The malaria medication is provided for free to those who test positive. She has also had some training in women's reproductive health and provides birth control and/or iron supplements to women in the village who would like those options for about $0.25 per month. She receives an honorarium of $17 per month for this work.
I just got back from a three day visit to a remote part of Kampong Speu province... actually one of the few "mountain" regions of the country. It was a lovely visit and the countryside is just gorgeous. This is the third month for us to be working with a new cluster of churches in this region. And so, on this visit I traveled out to actually meet with community members at their village - rather than just with church leaders at a central location for the cluster.
One of the joys of meeting people in their home place is finding out small ways that individuals are living out their Christian service to their community. As is true for church members in the US and around the world, people of faith in Cambodia are active in their communities and partnering with various local initiatives to improve lives. Many church members are very active in health care ministry, especially accompanying neighbors to the local clinic or farther afield to the provincial referral hospital. CHAD provides orientation to this kind of service through our Good Samaritan training program. But our training really just builds on what folks are already doing in their communities.
The first night of this trip I spent at the house of the pastor of the Kirirom church, and learned about an example of health outreach being done by the pastor's wife. His wife is the local malaria control volunteer. This region has particularly high incidence of malaria because many people get their livlihood from going into the forest (mostly to cut wood) and this is breeding ground for mosquitoes. Because it is cool and damp under the trees the malaria mosquitoes are also more active.
She has been trained by the government's Ministry of Health in partnership with USAID in a simple chemical-blood test for the malaria parasite and how to prescribe the correct dosage of medicine according to age, size, etc. for those who test positive. She showed us her records over the last 2 years and the growing awareness of people in her village about malaria indicated by the increased number of people who come for testing each month. The malaria medication is provided for free to those who test positive. She has also had some training in women's reproductive health and provides birth control and/or iron supplements to women in the village who would like those options for about $0.25 per month. She receives an honorarium of $17 per month for this work.
Kamis, 20 Oktober 2011
Bullying - It Gets Better - Gay Spirit Day
This is a great video to share with family and friends about bullying, whether you are part of the LGBT community or not!
Rabu, 19 Oktober 2011
Meet Our Staff...Lelenia...
Lelenia joined East Valley in 2006. She is responsible for the oversight of two HIV prevention programs called Project ACT and CHICAS. These program serve active drug users and Latina transgender women. Within these program she is responsible for ensuring compliance with all contractual program guidelines, which includes but is not limited to staff supervision, development and implementation of evaluation tools; quality assurance activities; ensuring proper ongoing training of staff; tracking and modifying budgets; and participating in community planning bodies.
What she likes the most about her job is being able to help the communities that are so often overlooked in today's society. The work that the Project ACT and CHICAS staff do (Lelenia, Norma, Gabriela, Efren and Sasha) within the community is essential to preventing the spread of HIV. They work with hard to reach populations and provide much needed HIV prevention services in the community. They deserve a pat on the back for all their hard work and ongoing commitment to the individuals they serve!
Our Patients...
Patients receiving services at East Valley
West Covina Rowland Heights
Covina Hacienda Heights
Azusa Pomona
Baldwin Park Ontario
La Puente/Bassett Claremont
El Monte
Over 95% of the patients receiving services at East Valley
To help East Valley continue to provide services to those in need, please click on the donate button located on our blog page and on our website at http://www.evchc.org/. Thank you for your support!
Selasa, 18 Oktober 2011
Flooding along the Mekong
Flood damage update. We've received several emails with questions and concerns about recent flood damage here in Cambodia. Thanks for your concern! There has been quite a bit of damage especially to many rice fields that were so close to being ready to harvest. Daneth Him just went up to visit Kampong Chhnang yesterday to assess the extent of damage to communities we work with there. The flood levels have not been as high as during the typhoon in 2009, but the water has been very slow to recede, which is why the crop damage has been extensive.
One of the difficulties is that this is the time of year when there is already seasonal hunger in Cambodia. Folks are stretching what little they have or have taken high interest rice loans to make it until the early rice is ready to harvest in November. It is often the fields that are most susceptible to flood damage that are planted early because they have more water, which is needed for those early crops. Therefore the "hungry season" will be extended this year. Additionally, many people have taken rice loans just to feed their families already and, with the reduced harvest, they may fall deeper into debt when they can't repay these loans. Many folks are already leaving their villages looking for alternative work. CHAD has been working for this past year with the Social Concerns Committee to establish "rice banks" in order to mitigate against these high interest loans, but many people will not even have rice to pay back to their low-interest community rice-banks either this year. This means that we anticipate an increase in the "hungry season" next year as well. Therefore, we hope to be able to shore up existing rice-banks and establish new ones in the effected area.
Thanks for your concern. If you would like to make a donation to be used by the Social Concerns Committee for the immediate relief effort, you can give online through The Advance and 100% will be delivered here. Please add a note/memo that this is for "flood relief" so that we will know how to channel your funds to SCC. Or, write a check to your local United Methodist Church and note in the memo "Advance #3020542 - flood relief."
CHAD will continue to fund rice banks through our ongoing development efforts. You can also give online to that effort.
by Katherine Parker
pictures by Him Daneth
ALTERNATIVE GIVING: A Coordinator’s Guide
Christmas is a time of gift-giving. But all too often, the gifts we give and receive are trivial — books, neckties, jewelry, video games. How many of these do we need anyway? This Christmas, help your church congregation, or even just your family, focus on the gift that really matters, through the Methodist Mission in Cambodia’s Alternative Giving Campaign. Give a gift of LOVE this season, and in turn, find yourself and your church refreshed.
This brief coordinator’s guide can help you run a successful Alternative Giving campaign at your church. Download a more in-depth PDF handbook here.
1. THE CATALOG: How to use it
We encourage churches to make the catalog available to their congregations in hardcopy. this helps members feel more connected to the campaign.
We understand many churches will not have the resources to print a batch of glossy, full-color catalogs, so we’ve made the catalog available in a wide range of formats (at www.scribd.com/altgiving/collections), from the margin-less color version to a catalog designed to print on an inkjet printer on normal 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Find the one that works best for your capabilities and resources.
There is also a PDF version of the catalog available that you can send out by email to your church members or friends. The resolution is too low for printing, but it looks nice when viewed on a computer screen. This catalog version has active links that takes you directly to the online giving. The link will direct you to a webpage of The Advance for the program here in Cambodia who will be responsible for following through on each of the different kinds of gifts listed in the catalog. The Advance is the designated giving arm of the United Methodist Church. Through other donations that support administration and fees, they are able to guarantee that 100% of your gift will arrive here in Cambodia to support the ministry program that you designate.
2. LOGISTICS: When and how
We have attempted to make this campaign as flexible as possible, giving you all the tools you may need, but leaving the logistical decisions up to you. You can run your campaign over one or more weeks between now and Christmas. We do recommend you distribute gift catalogs to church members at least one week in advance of the offering collection, to give them time to look over and pray about the available options.
Your campaign can be as simple as having congregation members drop order forms and checks into the offering plate one Sunday, or it can develop into something much bigger. Aldersgate UMC in Virginia has reported great success with their Giving Bazaar, wherein church members visit a “store” with tables showcasing different catalog items available for “purchase.” At each table, members can pick up a Christmas card insert, which will inform someone on their Christmas shopping list that a gift has been purchased in their honor. (These printable card inserts are available on scribd soon.) These inserts are then taken to a “check-out” counter, and the gifts are paid for.
3. PARTICIPATE: Promote awareness
The Alternative Giving campaign is about much more than fundraising. It’s about growing awareness of our programs here in Cambodia. We don’t just want your money this Christmas season. We want your thoughts, prayers and conversations.
We encourage you to find unique ways for different people groups in your congregation to participate in and own the project. One easy way is through the handouts (available on Scribd) aimed at specific groups within your congregation, including women, youth and sunday school children.
Mt. Tamalpais UMC in Mill Valley, Calif., gets its children involved in their campaign by asking Sunday School classes to create the Christmas cards that the “a gift in your honor” inserts can be glued to during the bazaar, so church members walk away with a very personalized card to give a loved one.
4. PUBLICITY: Get Attention
When you run an Alternative Giving campaign, you will have access to dozens of pre-fabricated and customizable publicity materials, including posters, bulletin inserts, PowerPoint slides, Sunday school and small group handouts, and short videos. Print materials, PowerPoint images, and logos for the alternative Giving campaign can be downloaded at www.Scribd.com/altgiving. All posters and handouts leave space for you to include the contact information of your local campaign coordinator or, if you prefer, just your church office.
Short videos can be viewed and downloaded from the Methodist Mission in Cambodia’s YouTube page, www.youtube.com/mmcambodia. (See full instruction manual for guidelines on downloading.) most videos are 3 to 5 minutes could easily be projected during a worship service or shown in a sunday school class or small group.
5. UPDATES: Campaign Support Online
Please notify us when you decide to participate in the Alternative Giving campaign by emailing us at altgiving.mmc@gmail.com. This way we can keep you up-to-date on campaign developments, answer frequently-asked questions and notify you when new resources become available. Also, periodically check our website (24healthcenter.blogspot.com) for updates and tips on Alternative Giving.
6. DONATIONS: Online and Mail Options
There are two tactics for campaign coordinators or church administrators tasked with handling donations for an entire church. One is to fill out a summary order form (available on scribd soon) representing the entire church’s orders and mail it, along with a check, to your conference treasurer or directly to the General Board of Global Ministries, at Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068.
Individuals and entire churches can also donate online. To determine which advance number catalog items go, you must use the “Catalog Prefix to Advance Number Key” located in a grey box on the Order Forms and also on the Online Giving instruction sheet. This will show you how to match a catalog item’s 3-letter prefix with its corresponding Advance number. Or, follow the links provided in the email version of the catalog to go directly to the correct online giving page for each gift.
This brief coordinator’s guide can help you run a successful Alternative Giving campaign at your church. Download a more in-depth PDF handbook here.
1. THE CATALOG: How to use it
We encourage churches to make the catalog available to their congregations in hardcopy. this helps members feel more connected to the campaign.
We understand many churches will not have the resources to print a batch of glossy, full-color catalogs, so we’ve made the catalog available in a wide range of formats (at www.scribd.com/altgiving/collections), from the margin-less color version to a catalog designed to print on an inkjet printer on normal 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Find the one that works best for your capabilities and resources.
There is also a PDF version of the catalog available that you can send out by email to your church members or friends. The resolution is too low for printing, but it looks nice when viewed on a computer screen. This catalog version has active links that takes you directly to the online giving. The link will direct you to a webpage of The Advance for the program here in Cambodia who will be responsible for following through on each of the different kinds of gifts listed in the catalog. The Advance is the designated giving arm of the United Methodist Church. Through other donations that support administration and fees, they are able to guarantee that 100% of your gift will arrive here in Cambodia to support the ministry program that you designate.
2. LOGISTICS: When and how
We have attempted to make this campaign as flexible as possible, giving you all the tools you may need, but leaving the logistical decisions up to you. You can run your campaign over one or more weeks between now and Christmas. We do recommend you distribute gift catalogs to church members at least one week in advance of the offering collection, to give them time to look over and pray about the available options.
Your campaign can be as simple as having congregation members drop order forms and checks into the offering plate one Sunday, or it can develop into something much bigger. Aldersgate UMC in Virginia has reported great success with their Giving Bazaar, wherein church members visit a “store” with tables showcasing different catalog items available for “purchase.” At each table, members can pick up a Christmas card insert, which will inform someone on their Christmas shopping list that a gift has been purchased in their honor. (These printable card inserts are available on scribd soon.) These inserts are then taken to a “check-out” counter, and the gifts are paid for.
3. PARTICIPATE: Promote awareness
The Alternative Giving campaign is about much more than fundraising. It’s about growing awareness of our programs here in Cambodia. We don’t just want your money this Christmas season. We want your thoughts, prayers and conversations.
We encourage you to find unique ways for different people groups in your congregation to participate in and own the project. One easy way is through the handouts (available on Scribd) aimed at specific groups within your congregation, including women, youth and sunday school children.
Mt. Tamalpais UMC in Mill Valley, Calif., gets its children involved in their campaign by asking Sunday School classes to create the Christmas cards that the “a gift in your honor” inserts can be glued to during the bazaar, so church members walk away with a very personalized card to give a loved one.
4. PUBLICITY: Get Attention
When you run an Alternative Giving campaign, you will have access to dozens of pre-fabricated and customizable publicity materials, including posters, bulletin inserts, PowerPoint slides, Sunday school and small group handouts, and short videos. Print materials, PowerPoint images, and logos for the alternative Giving campaign can be downloaded at www.Scribd.com/altgiving. All posters and handouts leave space for you to include the contact information of your local campaign coordinator or, if you prefer, just your church office.
Short videos can be viewed and downloaded from the Methodist Mission in Cambodia’s YouTube page, www.youtube.com/mmcambodia. (See full instruction manual for guidelines on downloading.) most videos are 3 to 5 minutes could easily be projected during a worship service or shown in a sunday school class or small group.
5. UPDATES: Campaign Support Online
Please notify us when you decide to participate in the Alternative Giving campaign by emailing us at altgiving.mmc@gmail.com. This way we can keep you up-to-date on campaign developments, answer frequently-asked questions and notify you when new resources become available. Also, periodically check our website (24healthcenter.blogspot.com) for updates and tips on Alternative Giving.
6. DONATIONS: Online and Mail Options
There are two tactics for campaign coordinators or church administrators tasked with handling donations for an entire church. One is to fill out a summary order form (available on scribd soon) representing the entire church’s orders and mail it, along with a check, to your conference treasurer or directly to the General Board of Global Ministries, at Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068.
Individuals and entire churches can also donate online. To determine which advance number catalog items go, you must use the “Catalog Prefix to Advance Number Key” located in a grey box on the Order Forms and also on the Online Giving instruction sheet. This will show you how to match a catalog item’s 3-letter prefix with its corresponding Advance number. Or, follow the links provided in the email version of the catalog to go directly to the correct online giving page for each gift.
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